«A piece of art is a spot of the universe seen through the prism of the unique temperament» Émile Zola

* * *

Rinat Sharafutdinov is a gifted and extraordinary artist with his own artistic system of coordinates and a singular frame of vision, reflection and feeling based on «the meditation in colors». On his canvases he calculates everything to the millimeter: the expressiveness of lines and forms, the arrangement of space through color, the subtle interaction of all pictorial elements as a unique and independent entity. His creative assets are indicative of a wide range of the artistic palette – pictorial art, graphic art and monumental-decorative art.
In the pictorial art domain the painter is prolific in the genres of landscape, still life, portrait and narrative paintings. While expanding the borders of the traditional chamber genres, he creates his own pictorial space where the color and form appear as the absolute aesthetic category and the artist reveals his unique image-bearing world in its full diversity. The characteristic feature of his pictorial temperament is the contemplation of the world. Through the vanity of everyday life the artist can carefully scrutinize the details of his environment. During his plain air sessions he enjoys drawing sketches that bear «the stamp of excessive excitement», and sometimes supply preliminary material for creating serious, large-format works. This is where the author achieves the intensity of his first feelings. Admiring the mundane beauty, the diversity of natural forms, he takes time to transfer his impressions onto the canvas, filling the pictorial space with his philosophic attitude to life and his apprehension of its transient nature as compared to the eternity of the mundane existence.
The master’s logic is based not only on the rigid adherence to the artistic principles but also on incorporating his creative imagination into the process of painting. His landscapes are absolutely reasonable with their village cottages, domestic animals, groups of agricultural workers, holiday makers, females bathing in the river, painters with easels («Evening. Verhneuralsk suburbs», 2012; «Warm autumn», 2013; «View of the Svyato-Nikolsky cathedral» 2015, and others). The subtlety of the poetic intonation is inspired by simple details of everyday routine and this narrative manner has a charm of its own. The artist resorts to this paraphernalia in order to fully express the harmony of being, and the subtle coloring provokes certain emotions in the viewers. All this enhances the impression of the universal and monumental nature of his paintings. The pastorale of many narrative motifs makes the impression that the artist lives under a different sky, perceives the world through different eyes, and therefore creates paintings unparalleled in their emotional impact and beauty and therefore turns the dream of «the life steam of happiness» into pictorial reality.
The continuous devotion of the master to landscape is not accidental as the possibility of self-expression in this genre is high. Depending on the emotional dominant the pictorial language and the coloring texture there appears an explicit sculptural brush stroke accumulating the energy of motion, bold dynamic rhythms, the expression of the local color. Natural forms turn into expressive volumes of mundane matter and literally through several brush strokes there appears the effect of a sun ray breaking through the clouds, the foliage trembling in the wind, the extravaganza of light and shadow. «Clouds», 2014; «Rain over the mountain», 2015; «Rainbow», 2016 and others). The author can impart a new content into the chosen motif that reflects his «inner ego». The secret of this «newness» is in his attitude to the natural form as a constantly changing reality, in his aspiration to alter the visual perception through his own pictorial feeling.
City landscape, warm and light, occupies a prominent place in the artist’s work. These nooks of the old city with resident-friendly architecture are peaceful and comfortable. The compositions imply the imperative development of a certain plot line – the lovers’ meeting, the anticipation of a meeting with a bouquet of flowers, walking a dog («The Provinces», 2006; «Magnitogorsk. Old yard», 2015; «Lilac in blossom», 2015; «Winter evening in the city 2015, and others). Within the framework of the city landscape genre there are works whose space is adjusted to different laws of compositional construction. The author focuses on the geometry of color contrasts, rhythm and the conventionality of architectural forms: textural planes of the walls, luminous quadrangles of the windows. But even this essential city structure suggests the mandatory presence of a human being as a certain countdown point in the apprehension of the author’s concept. (Diptych: «Outskirts», «Walking the doggie». 2016).
The author is continuing his work in the decorative stylization domain, seeking the expressive and laconic form in the still-life genre. In order to achieve plastic clarity the author transforms the world of outward things turning it into a picturesque entity that is governed by the color and linear rhythms of the composition, living the life of harmony and beauty. («Blue room», 2008; «Bouquet for ballerina», 2015 and others).
His talent is most vividly manifest in creating complex and interesting compositions in the monumental art. One of the most impressive works in the Southern Urals is an enormous size mosaics «Motion» on the façade of the Ice palace. The artist managed to accurately express rhythm and plastic dynamics. It became areal embellishment of the city. One of the recent works is the wall painting «Theatre» in the interior of the restaurant «Our all». It is a multi-figure composition in the interior of the auditorium with fancy dress characters of the second part of the nineteenth century (over 160 portraits of most prominent public figures in the city including the portrait of the author himself).
Considering a wide range of interests the development of the master’s creative evolution is not devoid of integrity and depth. The spot of the universe created in its overwhelming diversity, «seen through the prism of the artist’s temperament» is really abundant in emotions and distinguished by the sincerity of feelings and the original perception of the beauty of the world.

by Marina ABRAMOVA,
The chief curator of the Magnitogorsk City Gallery, art critic,
member of the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation.

.

.

1. The exhibition of the artist Rinat Sharafutdinov

.

2. The exhibition hall.

.

3. The exhibition hall. The vernissage.

.

4. The exhibition hall. Artist Rinat Sharafutdinov.

.

5. The exhibition hall.

.

6. The exhibition hall.

.

7. The exhibition hall.

.

8. The exhibition hall.

.

9. The exhibition hall.

.

10. The exhibition hall. Diana is in front of “Diana” painting.

.

11. The exhibition hall. Artist Rinat Sharafutdinov.

.

12. “Coast. The Raging Moon”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

.

13. “Fields”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

.

14. “The lost river”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

.

15. “Rain by the mountain”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

.

16. “Fire of autumn”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

.

17. “Outskirts. City”. Oil on Canvas. (57 x 65 cm)

.

18. “Walking with a dog”. Oil on Canvas. (57 x 65 cm)

.

19. “Diana. Portrait of the daughter with a bow”. Oil on Canvas. (48 x 43 cm)

Dear readers of the journal “Russian Art & Paris”, we sincerely thank you for your everyday presence, for your letters and your comments. They are very important to us. We hope to maintain your attention in the new year as well.

The atelier of Jean-François Millet and the Association of Art Puissance 7 Events, in partnership with the town of Barbizon, organized the First International Exhibition “Impressions” 2016 (le Salon de l’Estampe à Barbizon). This salon aspires to become an annual event for lovers of the prints technique, having experienced moments of glory in the small village of Barbizon. In this first salon will be exhibited works by 34 contemporary artists, as well as 12 prints of the XIX century Barbizon School.

* * *

There are places, remaining in memory for a long time, that are more accessible than others for the purposes of inspiration or emotion. These are the places that attracted the attention of artists for their charm and scenic beauty. Barbizon is one of those places, located on the edge of the plain of Chailly and Fontainebfeau forest. The Barbizon School – Corot, Rousseau, Diaz, Millet, Daubigny – turned into a great art movement of the XIX century and became a premise of impressionism.
Today, Barbizon is known for its galleries and museums, but it lacks the big annual exhibition that would present the works of old and new masters in symbiosis with the spirit of Barbizon. The uniqueness of the new salon is that the exposition presents the art of engraving, which has often been the both vector to the understanding of artwork, and also, above all, an art technique that is maximally saturated with direct emotions.
We hope that the emergence of New Salon will attain the highest of our aspirations. This Salon is also the result of partnership, and we warmly thank the various stakeholders: Philippe Douce, mayor of Barbizon, for the organization of this event; Daniel Moret and his studio, for workshops for their partnership; the gallery of Angelus, for the presentation of original prints of the Barbizon school; and the municipality of Barbizon for its help.
We especially thank the artists who showed interest and agreed to participate in this first exhibition of the New Salon.

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
― Ernest Hemingway, writer

“I guess it goes to show that you just never know where life will take you. You search for answers. You wonder what it all means. You stumble, and you soar. And, if you’re lucky, you make it to Paris for a while.”
― Amy Thomas, writer

“Paris was a universe whole and entire unto herself, hollowed and fashioned by history; so she seemed in this age of Napoleon III with her towering buildings, her massive cathedrals, her grand boulevards and ancient winding medieval streets–as vast and indestructible as nature itself. All was embraced by her, by her volatile and enchanted populace thronging the galleries, the theaters, the cafes, giving birth over and over to genius and sanctity, philosophy and war, frivolity and the finest art; so it seemed that if all the world outside her were to sink into darkness, what was fine, what was beautiful, what was essential might there still come to its finest flower. Even the majestic trees that graced and sheltered her streets were attuned to her and the waters of the Seine, contained and beautiful as they wound through her heart; so that the earth on that spot, so shaped by blood and consciousness, had ceased to be the earth and had become Paris.”
― Anne Rice, writer

.

.

* * *

1. Night in Paris.

.

2. Time for the primary part of day to begin…

.

3. The commotion of movement affects everything:

.

4. … a crowdof cars…

.

5. … on every street,

.

6. … pedestrians,

.

7. … and even rain. Paris without rain is just impossible at such a moment.

.

8. Movement is the quintessence of this hour.

.

9. A short pause on the island…

.

10. … and movement again:

.

11. … across the street,

.

12. … along the street,

.

13. … and even circularly.

.

14. In any direction…

.

15. On any route…

.

16. Along any course…

.

17. Taxis stubbornly stand still amidst this chaotic motion.

.

18. This is as usual.

.

19. The migration of buses exists but is not so fast,

.

20. … not fast at all.

.

21. Why would you be in a hurry if you are in Paris?

.

22. The train is a bit crowded,

.

23. … but nobody bothers anyone.

.

24. Rush hour is over. Intersections are finallyemptying,

.

25. … and so are business districts.

.

26. Nobody is in this shopping mall…

.

27. … or in this one.

.

28. Supermarkets are almost empty.

.

29. A lot of food patiently waiting for buyers.

.

30. The last customer.

.

31. About to close for the night.

.

32. A book store about to close as well.

.

33. Last client of the day.

.

34. Nobody is in the flower store.

.

35. The newspaper stand is closing.

.

36. Galleries are closed.

.

37. “The Thinker” is lonely.

.

38. This is not Rodin. This is the France Chocolatier.

.

39. This is not Salvador Dali, just a watch.

.

40. But this Raoul Dufy is real…

.

41. … and waiting for a good buyer.

.

42. It’s an excellent lobby accessory for your palace, if you have one.

.

43. The “Leica” store is closing now.

.

44. The car showroom clients are still in recollection about what they want:

.

45. … something like this,

.

46. … or like this?

.

47. The transportation problem is not very simple.

.

48. Parisians tend to side with green energy.

.

49. This is our ecologically bright future.

.

50. But right now we still (thankfully) enjoy archaic technologies…

.

51. Traffic comes down little by little…

.

52. … and the streets become a bit calmer.

.

53. The wistful Balzac sadly glances across the street at “Le Balzac”.

.

54. Life in “Le Balzac” is obviously not so bad…

.

55. …even in rain.

.

56. It’s still raining at the Arch of Triumph,

.

57. … but the night is already in full swing.

.

58. “A touch of modernity in a contemporary atmosphere with an outstanding view …

.

59. … on the most beautiful avenue in the world” – cafe menu of the L’Atelier Renault Centre.

.

60. Big modern restaurants …

.

61. … and old taverns from the left bank are ready and awaiting clients.

.

62. The turning point of the night: fewer cars and busier cafes.

.

63. Internet cafes are already crowded.

.

64. It’s an impressive sign of the digital revolution,

.

65. … but to get a glass of wine on a classical balcony is even more stylish.

.

66. At this time guests of the “Bristol” are only beginning to hail cabs to go for entertainment.

.

67. Perhaps to go here?

.

68. The “Lido de Paris“ on the Champs-Elysées is one of the most famous cabarets …

.

69. … and burlesque show in the world.

.

70. Some could still be in an undecided mood…

.

71. At the entrance of “George V” garçons are on spot …

.

72. … and in full readiness.

.

73. Finally it’s time for hard work here,

.

74. … and here,

.

75. … and here,

.

76. … and here.

.

77. This is the traditional style of a Parisian’ restaurant. The common hall …

.

78. … and a bar on the first floor.

.

79. There is a short line by the entrance …

.

80. … and a waiter invites us to an upper floor.

.

81. There are a few private rooms …

.

82. … and several small halls,

.

83. … like this one.

.

84. Another impressive empire style restaurant hall.

.

85. It’s impossible to imagine how people could progress …

.

86. … from this empire style to the unconstrained and spontaneous style of impressionism.

.

87. Paris is anticipating Christmas.

.

88. The beauty of this city,

.

89. … its charm,

.

90. … and its harmony are incredible.

.

91. Paris is for everybody and for everything: Paris is for bidding farewell,

.

92. … Paris is for hope,

.

93. … and Paris is for anticipations.

.

94. Paris is for haste …

.

95. … and Paris is for calm.

.

96. Paris is for the old …

.

97. … and Paris is for the young.

.

98. Its streets, boulevards, and squares are akin to a theatrical stage.

.

99. The weather does not matter.

.

100. What matters is the theme, plot, and actors.

.

101. Paris eagerly awaits a new Van Gogh,

.

102. … a new Degas, and so on…

.

103. This city always has a waiting mood …

.

104. … and much of its envisions have already occurred.

.

105. … wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

Dear readers of the journal “Russian Art & Paris”, we sincerely thank you for your everyday presence, for your letters and your comments. They are very important to us. We hope to maintain your attention in the new year as well. Best wished to you and your family in 2016!